New easy-peel mandarins for the home garden

HortResearch has released four easy-peel mandarins
for the home garden.

They are 'Bay Zest', 'Bay Sweetie',
'Bay Sunset' and 'Bay Gold'. The "Bay" name is derived from
the three major citrus growing regions of New Zealand: Bay
of Islands, Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay. Plant Variety
Rights will be sought for each of the varieties and they
have been licensed as a suite to Tharfield Nursery Limited
for commercial development (www.edible.co.nz).

Breeder and
scientist, Dr Alastair Currie said, "All the Bay series
trees have attractive foliage, showy perfumed flowers and
fruit with good eating qualities. They are sure to make an
attractive addition to the garden."

'Bay Zest', was bred
at the HortResearch research orchard at Te Puke and planted
in 1981. It is expected to perform best in the warmer
regions of the country and matures from late July to
November.

'Bay Sunset' resulted from a cross between
Clementine x Seminole Tangelo in 1987 and was tested in the
research orchard in Kerikeri. It was selected for its
unusual striped fruit and attractive foliage.

'Bay
Sweetie' was crossed in 1987 in Kerikeri. It is disease-free
and may be seedless when planted in large blocks.

'Bay
Gold' is a tangelo maturing from early September to late
October. It was bred in Te Puke and planted in 1978. It is
suited to the home garden because of resistance to
Alternaria fungal disease, large, attractive fruit and tangy
flavour.

The HortResearch citrus breeding programme has
been based at Kerikeri since 1989 and aims to select
easy-peel, seedless, sweet and flavoursome mandarins with a
range of harvest maturities and grown on trees adapted to
New Zealand's relatively cool maritime climate.

In response to the challenges facing Scoop and the media industry we’ve instituted an Ethical Paywall to keep the news freely available to the public.
Organisations whose staff use Scoop at work need to be licensed through a ScoopPro subscription under this new model, these users get access to exclusive news tools.
If you love Scoop you can also support through a monthly donation as a Foundation Supporter.

Thousands of young people will be given the chance to gain valuable qualifications and meaningful work under the Mana in Mahi – Strength in Work scheme launched by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today. More>>

The Official Cash Rate (OCR) remains at 1.75 percent. We expect to keep the OCR at this level through 2019 and into 2020, longer than we projected in our May Statement. The direction of our next OCR move could be up or down. ... More>>